Control mechanism for radio receivers



Aug. 29, W3. F. J HOOVEN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS FiledJuly 1'7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 15mm A.

/5 r 2 INVEYTOR.

( /M06 J a oo/m/vv,

d ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1939. F. J. HOOVEN.

CONTROL MECHANISM FQR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Ju'ly 17 1936 2 Sheets-g 2INVENTOR' AT TOR Patented Aug. 29, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECONTROL MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Frederick J. Hooven, Dayton, OhioApplication July 17, 1936, Serial No. 91,190

8 Claims. (01. 250-40) My invention relates broadly to radioreceivcontrol mechanism of my invention with the elecing systems andmore particularly to a control trical connections and the flexible shaftwhich mechanism for such systems. extend from the panel of the controlmechanism One of the objects of my invention is to probroken away; Fig.2 is a sectional view with parts 5 vide a compact construction ofcontrol mechanism shown in elevation and illustrating the adjusting 5for radio receiving systems for aircraft which means for the tuningmechanism of the radio may be mounted adjacent the pilots position onreceiver, the view being taken on line 4-6 of the aircraft forcontrolling the radio receiving ap- Fig. 3 looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. paratus located remote from the pilots position. 3 is avertical cross-sectional view through the Another object of my inventionis to provide control mechanism showing the coordination of 10 aconstruction of control mechanism for radio the tuning control mechanismwith the displacesystems on aircraft in which a multiplicity of ablering gear which surrounds the tuning meter functions may be controlledby the pilot from the in the control mechanism, the view being takenpilots position in the aircraft to produce predeon line 5-5 of Fig. 4looking in the direction of termined operations in the radio receiverlocated the arrows; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional 15 in theaircraft in a position remote from the view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1looking in the direcpilot. tion of the arrows.

Still another object of my invention is to pro- My invention is directedto a comp-act assembly vide a control mechanism for radio receivingapand construction of control mechanism for radio paratus on aircraftwhich may be compactly asreceivers for use on aircraft by which a multi-20 sembled adjacent the pilots position and conplicity of functions ofthe radio receiver may be nected both electrically and through aflexible controlled from the pilots position whilethe radio controlshaft with radio receiving apparatus in receiver is located in a remoteposition in the airthe aircraft remote from the pilots position forcraft and prot ted n t h influ n e of controlling a multiplicity offunctions in the radio variable temperature pressure and humidity con-25 receiver from the pilot's position ditions in addition toconcentrating the controls A further object of my invention is toprovide for the radio receiver in a position convenient to acontrolmechanism for a radio receiver includthe p t- The Control mechanism of yinvening a tuning meter and a mechanical indicator tion also includesthe controls for the marker mounted concentrically with respect to thetuning beacon receiver which is remotely located in the 30 meter andoperated simultaneously with the adaircraft and which is emp oy T0Operating the justment of the tuning circuits of the radio reflashindicator adjacent t e p ot f use in dceiver remotely positioned on theaircraft with vising the pilot with respect to effecting a blind respectto the position of the control mechanism, landing. The control mechanismof my inven- A still further object of my invention is to protionincludes a rotary adjusting device connected 35 vide a simplified andcompact arrangement or th ough fl bl Shaft W t tuning COHlJI'OI controlmechanism for a radio receiving system of the remotely located radreceiver- A tuning on aircraft in which the mechanical displacement meer is assembled adjacent the control mechaof the tuning device in theradio receiver is nism with the calibrated scale thereof visible from 40mechanically indicated on the control apparatus the front Panel of tControl ec an sm. A 40 simultaneously with the electrical indication ofcalibrated scale extends concentrically about the the tuned condition ofthe radio receiver. tuning meter and a pair of indicator members Stillanother object of my invention is to proare arranged to be adjusted overthe concentrivide a construction of control mechanism capable callyarranged calibrated scale simultaneously of conveniently coordinatingthe functioning or with the movement of the rotary adjusting de- 45 themarker beacon receiver and the main radio V cee Selective positioning ofe nd cator receiver on board an aircraft. members with respect to theconcentrically ar- Other and further objects of my invention reran edlibr ed s le i accompanied by a side in the construction of a compactarrange- Cor espo Change in position o t e u ment of control mechanismfor radio receivers meter electrically connected in the input Circuit 50including switching devices, volume control, and of the final detectorof the radio receiver for intuning control mechanism, as set forth morefully suring a constant check on the operating condiin the specificationhereinafter following by refertion of the radio receiver from the pilotsposience to the accompanying drawings, in which: tion. The controlmechanism also includes in Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showingthe compact assembly a volume control adjusting 5 device;non-directional receiver sensitivity control device; receiversensitivity control device; switch for changing from receiverobservations to telephone communication; main on and off switch for thereceiver; main n and ofi switch for the marker beacon receiver; switchfor changing from high and low frequency bands to which the l'adlureceiver is designed to respond; and control device for instrumentlights. The control mechanism also includes a convenient mounting for amain fuse in the power supply circuit of the radio receiver and markerbeacon receiver,

The control mechanism in housing I is located adjacent a front panelstructure H in which there is mounted the circular calibrated scale l2concentrically positioned about the circular dial plate l3 of the tuningmeter. The concentric position of the circular dial plate l3 and theannular calibrated scale l2 is such that an annular gap or path isprovided intermediate the annular calibrated scale 12 and the circulardial plate l3 as indicated at [4. A pair of indicator members projectsthrough the annular slot or path l4 and extend radially over both theannular calibrated scale l2 and the circular dial plate H8; Theindicator members l5 coact with the calibrations which I have indicatedat l3a on circular dial plate l3 and calibrations which I have indicatedat l2a on annular calibrated scale l2.

The circular dial plate l3 has a sight aperture l6 therein for observingthe movement of the tuning meter pointer H with respect to a coactingscale Ila carried by the circular dial plate l3.

I provide means for rotatably journaling the knob or crank l8 in housingl l for operating the tuning mechanism. The knob or crank l8 drives ashaft l9 imparting movement to bevel gear 2a which meshes with bevelgear 2i carried on rotatably mounted shaft 22. The shaft 22 carries aworm gear 23 adapted to mesh with the ring gear 24 as shown. The ringgear 24 is journaled upon the ring gear bearing 25 which isconcentrically disposed about the tuning meter 26. Movement of the knobor crank l8 therefore imparts rotary movement to ring gear 24 and at thesame time imparts rotary movement of the flexible shaft 21 which leadsto the tuning control on the radio receiver, not shown. The ring gear 24carries the indicator members l5 so that the indicator members areshifted in an annular path with respect to the circular dial plate l3and the annular calibrated scale I? simultaneously with thecorresponding movement imparted through flexible shaft 21 to the tuningcontrol of the radio compass receiver. The faces of the dial plate andannular scale are protected by means of a sight glass indicated at 23.

The housing I! also provides mounting means for the volume controldevice 29, the receiver sensitivity control 30, the marker beaconreceiver sensitivity control 3|, the main on and off switch indicated at32 for the system, the transfer switch 33 for changing from radioreceiver observations to radio telephone communication, a high and lowfrequency band switch 34, the on and off switch for the marker beaconreceiver indicated at 35, and the instrument lights switch indicated at36. A removable fuse plug casing 3'1 is mounted in the housing H inwhich a cartridge type fuse 38 may be removably inserted through thereadily detachable plug member 39.

In order to carry all of the electrical circuit conductors from thecontrol head to the radio receiver, the power supply, and the markerbeacon receiver, I provide a conduit housing 40 through which all of theleads extend.

The fact that the calibrated scale I2 is concentrically disposed aboutthe circular dial plate I3 provides a very compact method of checkingthe mechanical displacement of the tuning device in the radio receiveragainst the electrical readings afforded by the tuning meter 26. Thepilot is provided with all of the essential readings within an extremelysmall area of vision and is able to change quickly and accurately theoperating condition of the marker beacon receiver and the main radioreceiver. Moreover, the control mechanism is of such small size that itmay be readily mounted adjacent the other con trols in the aircraft andalso adjacent the on and off course indicators and the flash indicator.

It is obvious that other modifications and changes may be made and,although I have described my invention in one of its preferredembodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may bemade and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other thanmay be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. Apparatus for remotely controlling the operation of a receivercomprising a housing, a tuning meter mounted in said housing and havinga movable indicator, a calibrated scale adjacent said movable indicator,said calibrated scale having a substantially circular periphery withcalibration marks thereon, a substantially annular scale spaced by asubstantially annular gap from the substantially circular periphery ofthe aforesaid scale, an angularly adjustable ring member surroundingsaid tuning meter, indicator members carried by said ring member andpassing through said substantially annular gap and coacting with each ofthe aforesaid scales, and means for imparting angular movement to saidring member for shifting said indicator members for comparing thereadings on said scales with respect to the reading of the meter on saidtuning meter.

2. Remote control mechanism for radio receiving apparatus having atuning mechanism therein comprising a housing, a tuning meter located insaid housing and electrically connected with the radio receiver, amovable indicator controlled by said tuning meter, a dial member havinga cali-' bration adjacent said movable indicator and a calibrated scaleon the periphery thereof, a supplemental scale mounted adjacent theaforesaid calibrated scale, a rotary actuator journaled in said housingand connected through a flexible shaft with the tuning mechanism of saidradio receiver, an indicator cooperating with both of,

said scales, means for driving said indicator from said rotary actuatorsimultaneously with the tuning adjustment of the tuning mechanism insaid radio receiver for comparing the displacement of the tuningmechanism with the readings on said tuning meter.

3. Remote control mechanism for receivers comprising a housing, a tuningmeter mounted in said housing, a calibrated scale for said tuning meter,a supplemental scale extending about the periphery of the aforesaidscale, a sleeve member located behind said scales and surrounding saidtuning meter, an angularly displaceable member mounted on said sleevemember, indicator members displaceable with respect to said scales andcarried by said angularly displaceable member, and a rotary actuatorjournaled in said 7 housing and connected with said displaceable memberfor imparting angular movement thereto for adjusting said indicatormembers with respect to said calibrated scales.

l. Remote control apparatus for receivers comprising a housing, a tuningactuator journaled in said housing, a sleeve bearing disposed centrallyin said housing, a rotary gear journaled on said sleeve bearing andoperatively connected with said tuning actuator, a pair of calibrateddial members located adjacent said gear, and indicator members supportedby said gear and extending over each of said calibrated dial members,and a tuning meter located within said sleeve bearing, said tuning meterhaving a movable indicator operative with relation to one of said dialmembers.

5. Remote control apparatus for receivers comprising a housing, a rotaryactuator journaled in said housing, a sleeve bearing supported centrallywithin said housing, an angularly displaceable gear member mounted onsaid sleeve bearing and operatively connected with said rotary actuatorfor angular displacement under control thereof, a pair of concentricallyarranged calibrated dials disposed in the same plane adjacent saidangularly displaceable gear member, said dials having an annular gaptherebetween, an indicator member carried by said angularly displaceablegear and movable in the path provided by the annular gap between saiddials with respect to the calibrations on said dials, and a tuning meterconcentrically arranged within said sleeve bearing, said tuning meterhaving a movable indicator movable with respect to a scale carried byone of the aforesaid calibrated dials.

6. A tuning dial and meter assembly comprising an annular member bearinga frequency calibration, a disc member disposed coaxial and concentricwith respect to said annular member with an annular gap therebetween, atuning meter having an indicator and mounted behind said disc member,said disc member being apertured and provided with a scale for observingthe relative position of said indicator, an indicator operative in thesaid annular gap relative to the said frequency calibration on saidannular member, a rotatable ring member enclosing said tuning meter andcarrying the last mentioned indicator, and actuating means for angularlydisplacing said ring member and correspondingly moving the last saidindicator in accordance with a tuning operation.

7. In a remote control head for radio apparatus, a housing, concentricdial members supported within said housing and having an annularintervening gap between said members, a tuning control in drivingrelation with said radio apparatus, a rotatable ring gear supported insaid housing and driven by said tuning control, indicator means attachedto said gear and extending through said annular gap, a tuning meterhoused within said ring gear, and indicator means on said metercooperating with the inner of said concentric dial members.

8. In a remote control head for radio apparatus, a housing, concentricdial members supported within said housing and having an annularintervening gap between said members, a tuning control. in drivingrelation with said radio apparatus, a sleeve bearing supported Withinsaid housing, a ring gear rotatably mounted on said bearing and drivenby said tuning control, a plurality of indicators secured to said gearand ex-- tending through said annular gap, a tuning meter housed withinsaid sleeve bearing and ring gear, and indicator means: on said metercooperating with the inner of said concentric dial members.

FREDERICK J. HOOVEN.

